MLB matchup analysis

Phillies vs Mets Prediction, Odds and Model Pick

Sunday, September 20, 2026 at Citi Field · 1:10 PM ET

Pass

Leo decision: Pass on Phillies vs Mets

Lab Rating
5.3/10
Model lean
Phillies 66.9%
Market probability
60.8%
Model edge
+6.1%
Best moneyline
-165
Sportsbooks checked
9
Leo model
66.9%
Market
60.8%

The case for Philadelphia Phillies

Starting pitcher edge: 19 points
Leo gives Cristopher Sánchez a 19-point edge over Jonah Tong, driven mainly by BB/9 (2.0 vs 4.6) and K-BB% (21.4% vs 10.5%).

The case for New York Mets

Late-inning bullpen advantage
Philadelphia Phillies relievers have a 7.08 ERA over the last 7 days; New York Mets relievers have a 2.33. If this is still close after six innings, that gap favors New York Mets.
Their bats are hot: +0.027 wOBA
New York Mets is outhitting its own season form over the last 15 days.

Why it is not official

Setup quality below the bar
Lab Rating is 5.3/10, under the 7.2/10 required for an official pick.
Own bullpen carries risk: 8.8/10
The Philadelphia Phillies bullpen comes in high risk. A lead after six innings is less safe than usual.
Opponent is swinging it
The other lineup is +0.027 wOBA above its season form over the last 15 days.

Why the setup score is what it is

Conviction: 5.96/10
Leo's win probability for Philadelphia Phillies (66.9%) is well clear of a coin flip -- this is a real, stated lean, not a guess.
Pitching plan: 33.33/40
Cristopher Sánchez rates 76 on Leo's pitcher score, judged on its own merits (50-80 is the credited range). That is a strong start on its own, and it earns most or all of the available credit here.
Offense: 13.71/50
Philadelphia Phillies's recent form does not clearly outpace New York Mets's.

Why the price is what it is

Team strength: 49.8%
Before any pitcher or bullpen adjustment, Leo's team-strength model alone makes Philadelphia Phillies 49.8% to win. Everything below moves the price from this starting point.
Pitcher score gap: 10 points
The pitcher-score gap favors Philadelphia Phillies by 10 points. This is the biggest single mover of the price -- a large gap moves it a lot, a small gap barely moves it.
Bullpen adjustment: -0.078
The bullpen-fatigue gap between the two pens nudges the price toward New York Mets. This moves the price less than the starting pitchers do, since a starter covers more of the game than the bullpen.
Net effect: 49.8% -> 66.9%
Team strength alone had Philadelphia Phillies at 49.8%. After the pitcher and bullpen terms, the price is 66.9% -- the same number shown as Model Lean above.
The verdict Leo passes. The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.
Read the full model output

The combined Lab Rating did not clear the official threshold.

Game information

MatchupPhiladelphia Phillies at New York Mets
DateSunday, September 20, 2026
First pitch1:10 PM ET
VenueCiti Field
Starting pitchersCristopher Sánchez vs Jonah Tong
WeatherGame-time forecast: 67°F, 64% precipitation chance, 7 mph wind from SE.

Starting pitcher matchup

Full Pitcher Matchup Tool →
Cristopher SánchezPhillies · LHP
vs
Jonah TongMets · RHP
MetricPhilliesMets
Pitching planTraditional starterTraditional starter
Expected innings6⅓5⅓
ThrowsLR
Leo pitcher score (higher is better)7657
ERA (lower is better)2.874.21
WHIP (lower is better)1.221.32
K/9 (higher is better)10.08.8
K-BB% (higher is better)21.4%10.5%
K% (higher is better)26.8%21.9%
BB% (lower is better)5.4%11.4%
BB/9 (lower is better)2.04.6
HR/9 (lower is better)0.80.7
Ground-ball rate64.6%38.9%
Fly-ball rate35.4%61.1%

Pitcher edge: Leo gives Cristopher Sánchez a 19-point edge over Jonah Tong, driven mainly by BB/9 (2.0 vs 4.6) and K-BB% (21.4% vs 10.5%).

How to read this: the scorecards above name the starters; every number lives in this table.

Strikeout Projections Full strikeout projections →

Jonah Tong strikeouts
4.3 Leo projected Ks
Official pick: UNDER 4.5K · -0.8K difference
Market 4.5K · O +110 / U -135 · 5 books

Same data source as the Pitcher Matchup Tool, where every starter on the slate is compared side by side.

Neither side is playing well. Phillies are 4-6 in their last 10 and averaging 4.1 runs per game over the last 15 days; Mets are 4-6 in their last 10 and averaging 5.6 runs per game over the last 15 days. On the season Phillies carry the better run differential per game (+0.15 against -0.23).

MetricPhilliesMets
Last 104-64-6
Last 10 by venue (away team on the road, home team at home)4-6 on the road4-6 at home
OPS, last 15 days0.6840.767
wOBA, last 15 days (hot/cold read)0.3040.338
Runs per game, last 15 days4.15.6
K% last 15 days (lower is better)19.9%20.3%

Last 15 days only. Hot and cold streaks for all 30 teams live on the Stats page.

30-day offense

Full offense tool →
Last 30 daysPhilliesMets
OPS0.694 (-0.016 vs szn)0.738 (+0.036 vs szn)
Runs per game4.29 (-0.163 vs szn)4.82 (+0.552 vs szn)
wOBA (model offense input)0.3070.325 (+0.014 vs szn)
K% (lower is better)19.3% (-2.6% vs szn)21.2% (-1.2% vs szn)

Over the last 30 days the Mets have been the better offense, 0.325 wOBA to 0.307. They are running hot against their own season line (+0.014 wOBA).

Season profile

Full Stats page →
MetricPhilliesMets
Record85-7071-84
Run differential / game (team quality)+0.15-0.23
Runs scored / game (offense, season)4.454.30
Runs allowed / game (defense, season, lower better)4.304.53
Season OPS0.7100.704
K% season (lower is better)21.9%22.4%
OPS vs opposing hand (season)0.7080.684

Season-long team quality, not recent form. Run differential and run environment come from the season standings; splits for all 30 teams live on the Stats page, including the run environment table.

Every team on today's slate, on any two axes you pick. Phillies and Mets are highlighted.

Phillies
Combined risk
8.8 High risk
Fatigue
7.4 Tired
Efficiency
2.3 Struggling
Mets
Combined risk
6.2 Tired
Fatigue
7.0 Tired
Efficiency
6.6 Effective

Risk is what the model actually uses: fatigue blended with how well the pen has pitched. High fatigue with high efficiency is a tired pen that is still getting outs.

MetricPhilliesMets
Fatigue7.4/10, Tired7.0/10, Tired
Efficiency2.3/10, Struggling6.6/10, Effective
Combined risk8.8/10, High risk6.2/10, Tired
Relief innings, last 7 days20.327.0
Back-to-back arms65
7-day ERA7.082.33
7-day WHIP1.920.96

Fatigue measures workload. Efficiency measures recent run prevention. Combined risk is what the moneyline and totals systems use.

Run total projection

Full Totals Projections →
Leo projection
6.3
Market total
8.5
Projected away runs
2.8
Projected home runs
3.4
Over price
+110
Under price
-137
Philadelphia Phillies team total
2.8 projected
Line 4.5 · O -108 / U -112
Under research lean (-1.7)
New York Mets team total
3.4 projected
Line 3.5 · O +110 / U -132
No team-total lean

The model projects 2.2 runs below the market total. A research lean still requires a setup rating of at least 7.0/10. Team totals remain research-only until their graded sample is established.

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